Marc Savard

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When Marc Savard was drafted by the Oshawa Generals in 1993, the scouts said“he’s too small”. That was a line, like many other hockey players who are5’10 180lbs are told. Savard had a successful first OHL season compiling 64points. But still Savard didn’t get much recognition. In his second OHLseason Marc Savard led the OHL in scoring with 139 points. Not bad eh? Butremember he is still 5’10 180lbs..too small. Despite leading the OHL inscoring in his draft year Savard didn’t get selected until the 3rd round bythe New York Rangers. During his third OHL season Savvy (nickname) was wellon his way to a second consecutive OHL scoring crown until he broke hisankle. Still Savard finished the season with 87 points in just 47 games. Ofcourse the scouts dwelled that Marc’s injury was a result of his size, he“will never cut it at the next level”. After three fantastic juniorseason’s, a NHL training camp under his belt, Savard wasn’t even consideredfor Canada’s World Junior team or a prospect for the NHL, which bitterlydisappointed him. One of the biggest negatives about Savard was hisreputation as selfish player. Despite always having more assists than goals,and always looking to pass rather than shoot, the word on Savard was he ismore interested in Marc Savard than the Oshawa Generals. Entering 1996-97OHL campaign Savard wanted to do two things. Establish him self as a teamplayer and reclaim his scoring title which eluded him the previous season.Indeed he did accomplish his two goals becoming an alternate captain andwinning the OHL scoring derby over Joe Thornton with 130 points. Marc alsobecame the Oshawa Generals all time leading scorer quite a feat consideringBobby Orr, Eric Lindros, Dave Andreychuk and John MacLean are all Oshawaalumunists and he shook the monkey off his back in the playoffs. Savard ledthe OHL in regular season points and playoff points, which included the OHLFinals game winning goal in Overtime against the heavily favoured Ottawa67’s. There is no question Marc Savard has all the offensive tools. Butdoes he have the skating ability, defensive awareness and size to make it atthe next level. The last time these questions were being asked the scoutswere talking about Joe Sakic. Savard and Sakic have so much in common. Weare not saying Savard will develop into the next Sakic, he could turn out tobe a Yannic Perrault, but Savvy is always a step ahead of everybody on theice. Savard is young enough to play in the OHL again this season. ButSavard is old enough to play in the NHL too. And that’s where he belongs.He has earned it. He deserves it. Marc Savard finished 4th in preseasonscoring and if the preseason is any idication, 25 other NHL GM’s who passedup on Marc Savard in the 1995 NHL entry draft because he was “too small andselfish”, your boss may be asking you why you told him to pass on #27 fromthe Oshawa Generals.